French word

poireau

Pronunciation

IPA/pwaʁo/

Meaning

  • masculine nounleek

Example

J'achète un poireau au marché.

I buy a leek at the market.

Illustration for poireau (leek)

More examples

Je prépare une soupe aux poireaux.

I am preparing leek soup.

Core concept

A leek with a tender white stalk and pale leaves, used as a mild, slightly sweet vegetable in cooked dishes.

Common phrases

  • acheter un poireau

    buy a leek

  • une botte de poireaux

    a bunch of leeks

  • soupe aux poireaux

    leek soup

Similar words

oignon: A round bulb vegetable used raw or cooked to add sweetness and aroma.
oignon nouveau: A young onion eaten raw or cooked with its white base and green leaves.
échalote: A small layered bulb vegetable with a delicate aroma.

Definition in French

Plante potagère dont on consomme principalement la tige blanche et la partie claire des feuilles, au goût léger et sucré, souvent cuite comme base de plats.

Word origin

French poireau comes through Old French from Latin porrum, the Latin name for the leek.

Usage tips

  • Poireau is masculine, so the usual singular form is un poireau, not une poireau.

Related words

  • poireauterbe kept waitingverb
  • poireautagebeing kept waitingnoun

Word lists with this word